New colleague Danielle van Dijl joined ELS per October 2024

Since October, I’m combining my role at the Teaching and Learning Centre (TLC) with a part-time PhD focused on educational innovation in higher education. Within my role at the TLC I’ve contributed to multiple projects focussing on educational innovation varying from work in the EWUU alliance (acollaboration between TU/e. WUR, UU and UMCU), departmental grant applications (Npuls), Curriculum innovations, EdTech (SURF) and other initiatives aimed at improving (teacher) learning. I am looking forward to strengthening my experience in practice with research. My PhD centres around understanding the dynamics between organizations and innovation in teaching and education. By exploring this, I aim to uncover insights that can help institutions make meaningful, sustainable advancements in education.

My passion for educational innovation comes from the dedication I see in teachers and colleagues who genuinely want to improve education for students. Their enthusiasm and commitment are inspiring, and I believe these intrinsic motivations are essential for realizing innovations. However, it can be discouraging to see that, too often, their passion gets lost in the complexities of an organization. This is what drives me to understand how we can better align organizational dynamics (e.g., structures and support systems) with the goals of these dedicated individuals. In turn, I aim to contribute to environments where teachers passion can lead to lasting, positive changes for students in education.

I also love bringing creativity to my own work and practicing what I preach. I’m excited to experiment with new research methods and explore innovative ways to present data, aiming to make insights more accessible and engaging. By pushing the boundaries in my research approach, I hope to provide fresh perspectives that can resonate with both academic and non-academic audiences.

Contact: danielle.vandijl@wur.nl